It has finally arrived. After weeks of speculation and intense analysis by AFL recruiters, the 2008 AFL national draft has come and gone. Check out the list below to see which youngsters have been picked up and which experienced players have been given a second chance.

Have your say on the draftees and assess whether they will meet the needs of your club.

Let's for a minute assume Ben Cousins has kept his nose clean, figuratively and otherwise, in the last 12 months and will continue to do so.

Regardless, St Kilda and for that matter most other AFL clubs, have made the correct decision not to pursue the former West Coast captain and Brownlow medallist. Many made their decisions for the wrong reasons, but they made the right decision none the less, writes Michael Gleeson.

Whether St Kilda chose to cease its pursuit of Cousins - and he was theirs for the taking - for commerical reasons or not, they too have made the right call.

The most compelling reason not to bring Cousins to Moorabbin - or Seaford or the Pines or whatever place the nomadic Saints plan to hang a shingle - was purely a football one. It was a football one compounded by the significant baggage he arrived with.

Realistically if you were going to punt on Ben Cousins you had to be a club that figured itself only one very good player away from a flag.

How many clubs are in the bracket of believing that Ben Cousins for two years might deliver them a premiership?

And here you have your answer for why Collingwood and St Kilda led the early, and late, running for Cousins. The gaps in the Bulldogs list which need filling to edge them closer to a flag, would not have been satisfied by Cousins.

The Cats could not fit Andrew Lovett in their cap so Cousins was not really an option.

The Hawks, putting aside their president's pontifications on drugs, would not have seen him a priority for the few needs they in their list suggest another key defender not a running player.

Adelaide is sliding and needs more than Cousins. The Kangaroos could ill afford him from a sponsorship and player management position. Which leaves the Pies and Saints who would most appropriately feel they would be in the mix of the best four to six sides next year and speculate if a fit Cousins leapfrog them into contention?

He might.

But that is a Cousins that is not only clean of drugs but fit and able to play the game as we remember him playing it. This then is the next difficult question to answer and the hurdle Collingwood found itself unable to clear. When they put the total package together they baulked when they asked how frayed are Cousins hamstrings? How many games would you realistically get from him to justify the decision given all his attendant problems?

The fact is St Kilda is further from a flag than a fit Cousins could bridge. Selecting him would have suggested a serious misreading of the list to say nothing of the carnival that would have cascaded into Moorabbin with him. Weekly.

Sponsors have clearly had a significant say in many clubs' interest in the player.

The natural reaction is to tell the sponsors to leave the football decisions to the football people and mind their own business. But then it is their business. Clubs have eagerly sold these sponsorships on the basis that their club would deliver high-profile brand recognition and valuable positioning by association with a worthy and wholesome club and pursuit. Maybe it has needed a sponsor to ensure some clubs have taken the decision their football department ought to have.

Cousins being left at the altar on draft day will be a sad moment, even if as Greg Baum rightly points out, there has been no comment from the lips of Cousins on the perniciousness of the powder that has brought his career to this. Never the less, the image of a shunned Cousins, one of football's masters of the universe, being left unwanted would be one that could ultimately serve football well. It is one that six AFL players currently sitting anonymously on two failed drug strikes would do well to observe.

At the September release of her book, The Draft, Emma Quayle was described by AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou as "the foremost authority in Australia on elite young players". In assessing her seventh AFL National Draft, she reveals her Top 25 of the potential 2008 draftees ... with some apologies.

Emma has opted for key forward Jack Watts of the Sandringham Dragons as her No.1 selection. If Melbourne agrees, that would send the 196cm youngster to the Demons. She has Chris Yarran from Swan Districts as her next pick, while teammate Nick Naitanui completes her top three.

It's a thankless task but Emma has come up with her list of the best young players in the country who are vying for a spot on an AFL list. It's also important to remember that this is not a mock draft, but Emma's personal rankings of this year's draft crop, based on hours and hours of analysis. That's why she has Ayce Cordy at No.8, even though the youngster is definitely going to the Bulldogs at No.14 under the father/son rule. It you've got any comments or want to run a question by Emma, go to the 'Post a Comment' section at the end of this blog.

Emma's responses to your questions and comments will be published directly below during the week:

Thanks Dizzy, I can't see the Tigers going without both Hartlett AND Vickery. I think one will definitely be there, possibly even both which would make things interesting. On the off chance they're gone it will mean someone - Jack Ziebell most likely - will have pushed down the order a bit, and will be the one they go for. - Emma Quayle

Julz - I am a little afraid that Dan might come back and haunt me in years to come. I love him as a player, but just seemed to have others ahead of him. It's no knock on him - I think he'll play lots of games. Stephen Hill I really like as well - similar thing, I just like others a little bit more. This group is really hard to split and there could be some great future players picked up in the 20s and beyond. I love Casey, he's a bit lazy but I think once his new coaches and teammates get a glimpse of his talent they'll be right on his hammer. As for Richmond - I think if Tyrone Vickery is there he would be a great pick for them, he plays ruck but will also give them a young, strong-bodied key foward proposition, someone with a bit more bulk to him than Riewoldt, Hughes etc. - EQ

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Governor - There are a couple of key forwards the Cats could get their hands on - Lewis Johnston has a heap of talent and could be available for them. I wouldn't be surprised if Roughead went first round, but he might even last until their next pick. I think Steele is a chance to be picked by Essendon at No. 5, he's still right in the mix there, but if not he could literally fall anywhere between 11-17. He's a bit like Alex Rance last year - a lot of clubs really liked him, but just seemed to have someone else a little bit ahead, hence he slipped through to Richmond at No.18. - EQ

Thanks Alex. Collingwood's in a good spot because a good player may well slip through to them at 11. I think Jack Ziebell will be gone, but someone like Stephen Hill might get through and be good to pass up. The other onballers aroung the mark would be Tom Swift and Dayne Beams. If I was doing a mock draft today, I'd have Swift at No.11. - EQ

Hi Nathan. Rich is a chance of slipping but I'm not convinced Essendon would choose him even if there. I think they will choose from Yarran, Hurley and Sidebottom at this stage. At the moment they'd be trying to suss out which players will be there at their second pick - if they suspect there will be an abundance of key backs left, they might go a smaller player earlier although really, at No. 5, you'd be trying just to pick the best one there. If Dan does slip, then I can't see him getting past Carlton at No. 6 now. - EQ

Hi Will. Davis is a good size now. He's quick and athletic and I think he'd be a good pick for the Hawks. Lisle I quite like too - I could see him actually becoming a bit of a monster down back (he can play up forward too). I think Lisle will get picked around the start of the second round. - EQ

Hi Craig, Rich may not yet fall - the Dockers are split on him and Hill. If he does, I don't think he'll get past Carlton, and that's not actually a huge knock on him. Six is still pretty high. Clubs would be considering the scope or upside of players - how much improvement they have in them - and Hill probably fits that category. Dan struggled a bit with taggers this year and even he would tell you he wants to build up his endurance and work rate to try and shake them off. Maybe that's a reason some clubs have gone a little cold. - EQ

Flex - I'd have Trengove at No.10 at the moment, with McKernan and Davis in the mix. Looking at Matt Rendell's draft picks last year, he seemed to like players with a bit of spunk and attitude about them. I think Jackson fits that bill - plus he's big. quick and versatile. His kicking needs some work but, given that all his latest medial reports seem encouraging, I can definitely seem them picking him. - EQ

Hi Andy. I'd have Ziebell pencilled in for Brisbane at the moment - unless something funny happens and Rich is there. I think Yarran will have been taken out of their hands by either Essendon or Carlton. - EQ

Colac guy, There will be around 80 players picked up in this draft, plus rookies. It's good news for the kids because it means that a lot who may have missed out in previous years will get a look in. If Tom's talked to that many clubs then he is most definitely in with a good chance. - EQ

Primmy - I think Stephen Hill will take a little bit of time, to be honest. Having said that, he strikes me as a really diligent kid who will do anything that's asked of him and I've heard that he mixed in well with the senior guys when he made the West Perth senior side this year. He's a really quiet boy but really likeable and again, I'm sure once his new teammates get a glimpse at what he can do they'll all be doing whatever they can to help him make it. He's a real talent. - EQ

Hi Greg. I'd love to see Dylan get a shot, too. The thing counting against him would probably be his size - having said that, he's got a bit of pace about him and is a goalkicker. Given that there will be so many players drafted - 80-odd - I think it gives him a chance, either later on in the draft or as a rookie. - EQ

Gavin, I can't think of too many (potential draftees other than Cordy related to past players). Off the top of my head... Steven Motlop is Daniel's younger brother, and Jordan Lisle is the son of former North Melbourne player Mark. - EQ

Hi Bob. The biggest guys around this year are Nick Naitanui and Ayce Cordy, who are both 200cm-plus. Collingwood has also signed a rookie - Lachlan Keeffe - who would have to be pushing 203/204cms by now. I haven't seen him play much, other than a couple of games for Queensland, but the speed and agility of Naitanui and Cordy is pretty spectacular - Naitanui's chasing and tackling in particular. If they cut it, they're going to be so hard to match up on. - EQ

Can't help you too much Simon - everything I hear at the moment is pointing to Suban at No. 12, although I'll be interested to see if Steele Sidebottom takes their interest if available. Then again the Swans pulled a surprise last year with Pat Veszpremi - and he should definitely bring a bit of x factor over the years! - EQ

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Hi Steveo. Where Sidebottom ends up will be one of the more interesting aspects of this draft. I am a big Yarran fan and think on pure class and brilliance he's a level above Steele and the others you mentioned. But that's only one point of view! I don't think Essendon will pick Rich - I think it'll be Chris, Steele or Michael Hurley. You need to pick superstars at No. 5!! - EQ

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Hi Tim. I think this draft runs pretty deep - so I think there will be players come through who were drafted in the 30s and become good players. Some of the ones I really like are Luke Shuey (he sets up teammates really well with his handballing), James Strauss (great kick), Tom Rockliff (he just gets the footy and kicks goals) and a few taller, more speculative types - Liam Jones, a tall forward who hasn't played for most of this year from Tasmania via Scotch College and Michael Gugliotta, a raw key back/fwd from Darwin. Rhys Stanley and Jordan Roughead are a couple of ruck prospects I like the look of and might be picked somewhere in the 20s. - EQ

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Thanks Frankie, appreciate it. I think Swift would be a good fit for Collingwood. He can go in and get the footy and also use it pretty well. Hartlett would be a great fit - but he will be gone and not an option. Blease would bring some run and carry... he could also appeal to St Kilda at pick 13. - EQ

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Thanks Budda. I won't be doing a full mock draft - I'd love to, but want to put the right amount of work and research into it before doing it, and unfortunately don't have the time to devote to it. But I'll be doing either a top 10 or first round that will be published in the Age this week - hopefully I can get a tiny bit close to getting it right! - EQ

Thanks Mick, I think the clubs were a bit wary about what's coming with GC17 and beyond. I think both Geelong and Hawthorn have shown the way in the past few years with drafting, although you look back at Port Adelaide in 2004 and imports were such an important part of their team. I don;t think any team will get the sort of picks that Hawthorn got for off-loading the likes of Thompson and Hay a few years back - clubs are too wise now - plus the shifting of the priority picks makes it more difficult for clubs to really load up on top-end talent. Plus, I think you're right, it is a good year. Every club would have found it pretty easy coming up with 25-40 players they would happily pick. But I guess we'll find out in a couple of years how good it really is - there are some good tall players in this year's pool and a lot of raw talent, so it may take them a bit longer than some other years to come through. - EQ

Thanks Perry. Clancee (Pearce) wasn't far out of my list - had I had the opportunity to see a bit more he may well have pushed him. I think he's one who will come into the mix anywhere from 20-40. - EQ

Just wondering .... Nick Heyne's another who may be picked in the 20s, or push out to early 2nd round. St Kilda, Sydney or Collingwood might take a look. He's an exciting player - he pushes forward quite quickly, can do a few unpredictable things and has a handy knack for kicking goals. - EQ

Hi Raso. I'm a big fan of Tom Rocklif. He reminds me a bit of Jason Porplyzia - who, it must be remembered, had people querying his pace and fitness for a long while before making it. I think he could be picked anywhere from 30 onwards. I can see him playing games next year, kicking four in a quarter or something, and people wondering 'how did this kid drop that far in the draft??' Over time, the challenge for Tom is to get his endurance up so he can spend more time on the ball. Not too many small/mid-sized forwards these days get picked before the end of the first round (Rioli last year is an exception). But as I've said before, Tom just wins the ball consistently, is a strong mark for his size, and kicks goals. Someone will give him a shot. - EQ

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Hi Brendan. I think at No. 5 Essendon will just be picking the best player they can. If they choose Hurley, then they can start to develop him as a key back, if not then someone like Jordan Lisle may still be there for them at No. 23. - EQ

In the latest instalment in the Ben Cousins saga, the AFL Commission has imposed strict conditions on former champ in granting him permission to again become an AFL player.

Most observers expected the commission to lift Cousins' deregistration as a player when they meet in Sydney earlier this week. But few would have predicted how tough the AFL would make it for Cousins when and if he returns to top-level footy.

In ending his 12-month ban for bringing the game into disrepute, the commission ruled that Cousins would face urine tests three times per week and hair tests four times per year, among other special conditions.

Is this an acceptable ruling by the AFL, given that Cousins would be treated differently to other players under the league's three-strikes drug policy?

Should Cousins and his management simply accept the commission's ruling and convince an AFL club to give him a second chance and aid his rehabilation?

Relinquishing the captaincy of an AFL club is becoming the trendy thing to do.

In the past few weeks, Richmond's Kane Johnson, North Melbourne's Adam Simpson and Port Adelaide's Warren Tredrea have all stepped aside from the top job. Furthermore, the Brisbane Lions will have Jonathan Brown as their sole skipper after two years of a joint captaincy model.

This forum is now closed.

Is it merely a coincidence that three experienced players have opted out of the leadership role in only a few weeks? And who do the clubs turn to now for their new captain? Does Matthew Richardson deserve the top honour at Tigerland after 16 years of distinguished service? Should he accept the job?

What about North Melbourne? Brent Harvey is widely being touted as the obvious replacement for Simpson - is the ball magnet the best man for the job?